Members were inducted to the Sigma Kappa Delta (SKD) Chapter at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) in the chapter’s first induction ceremony, held earlier this month.
SKD is a collegiate honor society for students of English at two-year institutions.
Eight students were welcomed into the SKD ranks.
Chapter advisor, Mrs. Ruth Tauiliili-Mahuka, an instructor with the ASCC Language &
Literature Department, took the initiative to start an SKD chapter at the College, as a means of finding a wider audience for her student writers.
“Writing is such a social process that if students know they are not just writing for an instructor and at times their peers, but potentially for a wider audience, it gives their compositions more purpose,” she explained.
Mrs. Tauiliili-Mahuka researched avenues for students to get published to a wider audience and in March of last year she heard back from the national Sigma Kappa Delta headquarters.
They asked that the chapter submit a student publication.
Tauiliili-Mahuka said, they happened to have a publication already in draft stage, which is their literary magazine, Pacific Voices.
“SKD invited us to enter Pacific Voices in their annual national competition for literary magazines and journals,” she said.
The next step was to charter an SKD chapter at ASCC, and with the support of President Dr. Pato, by May, the members had officially started one.
Among the benefits of membership, the SKD offers chapter awards, as well as individual awards and scholarships. In addition to promoting an interest in English literature and language, the SKD aims to foster literacy, promote exemplary character, and to at all times exhibit high standards of academic excellence.
Activities and long-term goals of the ASCC SKD chapter, as explained by Tauiliili-Mahuka, are to carry out community service activities that promote reading and an interest in literature, and to make an annual contribution to the SKD national project—which this year, is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
At the moment, the group’s biggest project is the drafting and publishing of Volumes I and II of Pacific Voices, a literary journal of poetry, prose and art.
It also plans to conduct community projects with high schools and English instructors, to promote reading and the creation of student publications to showcase original writing.
The SKD Chapter welcomed new members Ayjah Leo, Cherinalei Tilau Simanu, Deliah Samarra Va’itaua Paopao, Evis Takubala, Janella Maribelle Musuni, Luciano Fuataga, Mareko Solofa, MJ Mauola Jr. Metuli, Neli Laulu and Tavui Toatelegese II. Other members include Talofa Fe’a (President), Osana Laulu (Treasurer), Mareko Solofa (Historian) and Cailyn L. Ponausuia (Marshall). Although both newly inducted, Ayjah Leo serves as Vice President and Neli Laulu is the chapter’s Secretary.
Anyone seeking further information on the ASCC chapter of the Sigma Kappa Delta, or who would like to inquire about their Pacific Voices publication, is welcome to contact their advisor by email at r.tauiliili-mahuka@amsamoa.edu.
